Thomas Klippert was born to Edward and Mary Klippert (nee Matheny) on February 11, 1931. As children, he and his sister had the privilege of attending the North Side Gospel Center (Center) in Chicago where the Awana Program began. It was there he entered into a personal relationship with his Savior at the age of 8. He went on to sit under the teaching of Lance Lathem, the founder of the Center, for more than 40 years and as a young adult he was active as both an Awana Leader and counselor at Camp Awana in Fredonia, Wisconsin. He never lost his lifelong passion for serving God teaching adult Sunday School until well after he retired at Medinah Baptist Church.

He graduated from Austin High School in 1949 where his God-given gift for Science and Math bloomed and went on to receive both a Bachelor and Master of Science in Physics from the Illinois Institute of Technology. While working as a Nuclear Physicist during the early days of the Cold and Korean War he was drafted into the military but was sent home because of his value to the nation as a physicist in the new nuclear age. Shortly thereafter, he met Harriette Kelstrup, a Wheaton College Graduate student from Ferndale, Washington. After their union at College Church in Wheaton in 1957 he left the city of Chicago for the suburbs and learned to love the Norwegian Christmas Eve dish of lutefisk while they raised their three Children. He worked at Argonne National Laboratory in the Advanced Photon Source program until his retirement in 1996. He never lost his love for science and attended seminars at Argonne for the rest of his life.

After Harriette's passing in 2002, he spent 20 happy years as a resident of Windsor Park Manor.  While at Windsor he made many close friends and continued his love of learning by attending Bible Studies and college courses, all while continuing to serve on the Board of Directors of Awana Clubs International until his mid-eighties. He also complained every year that there was no Opening Day party at Windsor for the White Sox while there was one for that other team in Chicago. It was his Windsor family that lifted him up while he mourned the homegoing of his son Kurt in 2015.

Throughout his years he modeled his life verse to those around him.

"Therefore my beloved brethren be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. For you know your labor is not in vain in the Lord." I Corinthians 15:58 (NKJV)

He is survived by his daughters, Karen (Mike) McFee and Koralie (Mark) Whitby, his daughter-in-law Robin (Kurt) Klippert, his sister Mary Lois Talbot, his 8 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, 1 foster great granddaughter and 1 foster great-great grandson.

He leaves a legacy of wonder of the redemption Jesus Christ provided, love for his Savior and love for his family.

Memorial gifts may be made to Awana Clubs International , PO Box 809, St. Charles Il 60174.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 14, at 2:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at Windsor Park in Carol Stream.  All are welcome.  Please enter at the main entrance and follow the signs. To view a recording of the service, please use this link: Memorial Service for Tom Klippert .